Fisher Cats gain sweep in Erie

ERIE, Pa. — Brian Van Kirk had a key bases-loaded single and Marcus Stroman registered a career-high eight strikeouts as the Fisher Cats completed a three-game sweep of the Erie SeaWolves with a 3-2 win Sunday afternoon.

It was the Fisher Cats’ first ever sweep against Erie, and it caps a 3-3 road trip to the Western Division.

The SeaWolves (32-28) opened the scoring Sunday, taking their first lead of the series in the first inning. A two-out solo home run by Hernan Perez staked Erie to a 1-0 lead.

The Fisher Cats (31-33) rallied to take the lead in the fifth. They loaded the bases for Van Kirk, who laced the first pitch he saw from Kyle Lobstein (7-3) into right-center to plate two runs. Lobstein committed a balk on his next offering, adding a third run to give the Fisher Cats a 3-1 lead.

That fifth-inning strike was noteworthy for more than giving New Hampshire the lead. It was the first time the Fisher Cats scored on something other than a home run since Kevin Pillar’s bases-loaded single in the second inning on Wednesday night.

Stroman (2-1) earned the win for the Fisher Cats, allowing a run on four hits over five innings. He struck out a career-high eight SeaWolves before turning the ball over to the bullpen. Chorye Spoone (three innings) and Dustin Antolin (one inning, save) closed the door with four spotless innings of work to complete the sweep.

The Fisher Cats now return home to face Akron and Erie for a six-game homestand beginning Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. Marcus Walden (4-6, 3.25) starts the opener against Akron’s Matt Packer (3-5, 3.22).